Simmons alumna Liz O'Connor '13 moved to Europe after graduation to continue her basketball education and experience life abroad. The Milton, Mass. native is playing for the BG Bonn Basketball Club based out of Meckenheim, Germany and is averaging 14 points per game. She is also coaching a youth team and taking German lessons in her free time. O'Connor offers us a closer look into her year abroad and how life at Simmons has prepared her for this experience.
Q: What is it like playing with athletes from other parts of the world?
A: Playing on a basketball team with all Germans is a really cool experience. They are all highly motivated and competitive. The ages of the women on my team ranges from age 17 to 40. I am the only American on the team but they all speak English.
Q: What were the deciding factors that led you to play Basketball abroad?
A: The deciding factors of me playing abroad were Coach Tarr and my agent Iska Waterloh. I knew that I wanted to play overseas after long talks with Coach Tarr, advice from her on who to contact, and hearing all about how she loved playing and living overseas. I went to my agent Iska's Pro Camp in Germany and after that, I really knew that I would love to play and live in Europe. I continued to contact her throughout the summer and at the end of the summer she sent me an offer. The offer was to play basketball for BG Bonn (the team her daughters play for also) in Bonn, Germany and coach a boys' youth team.
Q: What have been the biggest challenges living abroad?
A: One challenge living abroad is not being able to communicate with people from home all the time because of the time change. Also another challenge is the language barrier. However, I now take German lessons and am beginning to understand the language more.
Q: What is your fondest memory of your time with Simmons Basketball?
A: My fondest memory of my time with Simmons Basketball is playing against our rival Emmanuel College. Every year we would get pumped up and treat this game like it was the biggest game of the season.
Q: Is there a particular game from your time competing that you are most proud of?
A: The game I am most proud of competing in was my freshman year at Simmons against Emerson. Our team beat Emerson and advanced to the second round of the playoffs for only the second time in Simmons History.
Q: What class or classes at Simmons helped prepare you for life after college?
A: The course Organizational Behavior helped me prepare the most for life after college because it taught us how to communicate with people from all different backgrounds. This class has certainly helped meet new people in my time living overseas.
Q: Have you been able to travel?
A: I have traveled to Amsterdam and Pamplona, Spain to visit my Spanish teacher from High School. Both places were very cool places to explore. Amsterdam has some of the most beautiful canals in the world. Pamplona, Spain is where the Running of the Bulls takes place every year and I found it interesting to learn about this event while touring the city.
Q: What do you love most about basketball?
A: I love Basketball because I love competing against other opponents and giving 100% every time I step on the court. I also love being a part of a team and meeting new people.